Flip Phone Challenge

What does the iPhone 11 Pro Max, 11, XR, 8+,8,7+, SE (2106), Google Pixel 4XL, Samsung A51. All have in common?

I own everyone of them right now. I am not a tech reviewer, but I watch most of them on YouTube. I am not a special agent for the CIA who has multiple aliases. I am just a phone and tech groupie and I love everyone of these phones for one reason or another.

But that changes today. I won’t go into all the things wrong with excessive phone usage and the evils of Social Media, but having said that, Social Media is really EVIL! See Cal Newports book on Digital Detox.

I want to do a simple test and break out an old flip phone and use it for a week. No big deal! Or is it? All of the convenience that the smartphone provides is incredible , but life was just fine before them, I found my way around, I read the news, I had games to play.. I think clearing my head for a week is just what I need, I hope that at the end of the week, I just say screw it, and keep the Flip Phone.

I will give a daily update on my journey and hopefully we can all benefit in some small way from it.. Here we go… 836am EST the SIM card is going in.

First update.. 905am Had to use the bathroom, that is usually at least 20 minutes.. this time, no phone, took care of business and it was a 5 minute deal… Already adding time to my day!

Work emails.. I like the fact that I am checking them in the morning and will again at night. I seem more tuned in to them. I am actively taking care of them instead of glancing at them on my phone and MAYBE getting back to them later. This is a good sign.

Day one.. Working from home. Took a few calls on Flip phone and it was ok. The boss told me to call a few people to deal with an issue and I realized that I couldn’t email them or call from my flip phone (because I didn’t have any numbers programmed into it yet. I panicked and threw the SIM back in my Iphone. It made me realize that I can not compromise my job over this. Email, Texting, calls and some internet is a key part of my job, especially when trying to work from home.

So I officially lasted 6 hours…. Maybe prepare a little better next time or wait until I am working back in the office full time???